Facility planning
Seems like this question’s asked on a regular basis:
I received a request from a fellow media specialist, for information on building a new media center. I know many of you have been looking at plans for designing school library spaces. Could anyone out there in school library land share some of what you have learned and any good sources you found? I am happy to compile any hits I receive. Thanks so much,
So as much for my own convenience as any service, here’s a short bibliography of things I’ve written on library facility design.
Imagining the Future of the School Library (with Rolf Erikson)
http://www.designshare.com/index.php/articles/school-library-future
Some design considerations when building or remodeling a media center
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/some-design-considerations.html
Building Digital Libraries for Analog People: 10 Common Design Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/designing-digital-libraries.html
Facilities planning survey
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/3/2/facilities-planning-survey.html
Library design advice from the ancients
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2008/5/14/library-design-advice-from-the-ancients.html
- Community access
- Visual control
- Traffic patterns
- Multiple activities
- Aesthetics
- Flexibility and the future
Theory into practice - Rolf Erkison on third place libraries http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/2/18/theory-into-practice-rolf-erkison-on-third-place-libraries.html
I highly recommend Rolf Erikson and Carol Markuson’s Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future, 2nd ed, ALA, 2009:
http://www.amazon.com/Designing-School-Library-Center-Future/dp/0838909450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258714257&sr=8-1
Hope this helps. Remember, all my writing has been approved by the AMA as a non-addictive sleep aid!
Doug Johnson
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Reader Comments (4)
Gosh, Doug, you really are my hero! I accepted a position in Mongolia for next year (my old boss from Egypt). Anyway, he wants to fly me out during spring break in March, because they're planning a new high school, and he wants my input for the library. I had a whopping 2 classes on facilities planning in "library school"--so have been floundering around online, and trying to find the few books on the subject at libraries.
This is wonderful. Thanks!
BTW--just received your new book. Looking forward to reading it.
Jeri
Hi Jeri,
Mongolia! Wow. Do you need somebody to carry your bags? I could go with... China is the closest I've gotten to that intriguing place. Be sure you get on the list to go to EARCOS conferences.
Be sure you also pick up Rolf Ericson's facility planning book too. Great stuff.
Have fun and don't drink too much kumis!
Doug
We completed the schematic planning for a new "Aacademic Commons" for the library at Dickison College. The reserach and analysis for this project was a lot of fun. The end result was a master plan for about 25,000 square feet and an associated budget. Unfortunately the porejct was put on hold. To learn more about the project, contact me at gbrinton@facplan.com.
Hi Gary,
I tend to work primarily with K-12 library facilities, but I will certainly leave your offer here for those interested in post-secondary planning.
Thanks and all the best,
Doug